Collapsible rack.



L. I. DARBY.

COLLAPSIBLE RACK.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 6. 1918. 1,2915% Patented Mar. 18,1919.

2 SHEETS'SHEET'I.

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L. l. DARBY.

COLLAPSIBLE RACK.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 6,1918.

1,297,548 Patented-Mar. 18,1919.

2 SHEETSrSHEET 2- E 7 E 5 335.5 f: L evl I T B SZEY,

ATTORN EYS STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEVI I. DARBY, 0F NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

COLLAPSIBLE RACK.

Application filed March 6, 1918. Serial No. 220,683.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEVI I. DARBY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Collapsible Rack; and Ido hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, and to characters of reference markedthereon, which form a part of this specification.

The present invention relates, generally, to a collapsible rack forcans, preserving jars, bottles, etc.; and the invention has reference,more particularly, to a novel utensil which is adapted as an aid inhandling jars, and the like, by the housewife during the processes ofpreserving fruit, vegetables, and other products, the same being of sucha novel construction as to be readily folded up, when not in use, so asto occupy little storage space.

The invention has for its principal object to provide a novelcollapsible rack having a novel means for articulating its variousparts, and a novel means for locking the same in its opened operativeposition; the same providin furthermore, a very clean, sanitary, durableand easily manipulated utensil for the purposes mentioned.

With the various objects of my present invention in View, the sameconsists, primarily, in thenovel construction of collapsible rackhereinafter set forth; and the invention consists, furthermore, in thenovel arrangements and combinations of the various devices and parts, asWell as in the details of the construction thereof, all of which will behereinafter more fully described in the following specification and thenfinally embodied in the appended claims.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inWhich:-

Figure 1 is a side view of the novel collapsible rack in its openposition ready for use; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same in openposition; Fig. 3 is a side view of the same in collapsed position; Fig.4 is a transverse seotion taken on line 14 in said Fig. 1, lookingtoward the left; and Fig. 5 is a transverse section taken on line 55 insaid Fig. 1, looking toward the right.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail side view of the means for locking the rackin open position; Fig. 7 is a similar detail View of a bearing portionof the device, Fig. 8 is a front edge view of the same; and Fig. 9 is asimilar front edge View illustrating the way of opening said bearing forassembling purposes.

Similar characters of reference are employed in all of the hereinafterdescribed views, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring now to the said drawings, the reference character 1 indicatesthe complete collapsible rack made according to and embodying theprinciples of my present invention, the same comprising a bottom memberconsisting of a rectangular frame having longitudinal side portions 2and transverse end portions 3 integrally formed, a suitable unitingsleeve 4, or other suitable means, joining together the abutting ends ofthe frame, preferably at a side portion 2. Arranged intermediate of saidside portions 2 are a plurality of supporting bars 5. Said supportingbars 5 are longitudinally disposed, and are provided at their ends witheye-portions or loops 6 which embrace said end portions 3 to secure saidbars 5 in place. The frame thus formed is tinned after its parts areassembled together, and the tinning serves to solder the eye-portions orloops 6 to the end-portions 3 to fix said bars 5 and the sleeve 4 inplace.

The reference character 7 indicates normally vertical corner pieces orrisers respectively pivotally connected at the corners of said bottommember. Said corner pieces or risers are preferably made of fiat metal.Fixed to and extending between the lower ends of laterally oppositecorner pieces or risers, are transversely extending spreader or spacerrods 8, which serve to secure said laterally opposite corner pieces orrisers to gether, and maintained in proper laterally spaced relation oneto the other. The ends of said rods are fixed'in perforations providedin said corner pieces or risers. Connected integrally with the outwardlyfacing marginal edge of each corner piece or riser, adjacent to theupper end of the same, are a pair of vertically spaced outwardlyextending lugs which are curled inwardly to form receiving socketportions 9. Fixed in said socket portions 9 of laterally opposite cornerpieces or risers 7 are the ends 10 of an upwardly projecting handle loop11, which thus extend vertically upward from joining together theabutting ends of the frame, preferably *at a side portion 12. Arrangedintermediate of said end portions 13,

in equally spaced positions, are a plurality of transverse bars- 15, theendsof which" are turned around said longitudinal side portions 12 toprovide embracing eye portions or loops'16 to secure said bars 15 inplace. The top "frame thus formed'is tinned after its parts areassembled together and the tinning servesto solder the eye portions orloops 16 to the side portions12 to fix said bars 15 and the sleeve 14 inplace.

The said corner-pieces or risers are each provided in their inwardlyfacing marginal edges, adjacent to their lower ends with a novelconstruction of bearing portion whereby the bottom frame member ispivotally connected therewith. Th'ese novel bearing portions comprise asemi-circular seat 17,

cut or notched in thematerial of each corner piecev or riser; Eachcorner piece or riser is cut away at'the inner sideof its seat in theform of a vertical'slot 18 thus providing a tongue 19, integrally formedwith each corner piece or riser, and extending downwardly and verticallytoward said seat 17 the free end of each tongue also having cut ornotched therein a senli circular seat 20 adapted to be alined above saidseat 17,'and when so alined toform in conjunction therewith 'a circularbearing opening. When it is desired to assemble in proper pivotedrelation to said corner-pieces or risers 7 said bottom frame member,said tongues19 are bent'outwardly away from the seats 17 (as shown'inFig. 9 of the drawings) thus pro viding openings or gapsthrough whichthe transverse end portions 3 of said bottom frame member may beinserted to seat the same'in said semi-circular seats 17 v of saidcorner-pieces'or risers 7. After the end portions 3' are thus related tothe seats 17 the tongues 19 are then bent back into normal position tocarry their seats 20in straddledrelation over said end portions 3 andalined with'the' seats 17 to combine therewith'in forming a circularbearing in which said endportions 3 of the bottom frame member arepivotally journaled,-'as will be clearlyapparentfrom an inspection ofFig.

6 of the drawings; In like manner said corner pieces or risers areprovided in their inwardly facing marginal edges, adjacent to theirupper ends, with a similar bearing construction, comprising thesemi-circular seat 17 the vertical slot 18, and the tongue 19 having thereverse seat 20 for alinement with the seat 17 said bearing portionsproviding a pivotal connection of the end por tions 13 ofsaid'top framemember with the corner pieces or risers 7 the manner of assembling saidparts being the same as above described.

It will thus be apparent that the bottom frame member'and top framemember are pivotally connected withthe corner-pieces or risers, thelatter being arranged in later- 'ally opposite interconnectedpairs'providing end frame members, and that consequently by turningdownwardly the end frame-"members thus provided, the rack or carrier'maybe collapsed into a substantially flat bulk as shown in Fig. 30f thedrawings.

In order to properly limit-the unfolding or setting up movement of theendfra'me members, so that the same cannot swing beyond a normalvertical plane, I provide the corner-pieces or risers forming one endframemember with stop means for limiting the upward swinging movement ofthe end frame'membersf This stop means comprises an inwardly extendinglug 21, connected with each of the laterally opposite corner pieces orrisers which form one end member, the same extending from the innermarginal edges of said corner pieces or risersbenea'th" thebear'ingportions thereof in which the bottom frame is journaled. Thefree end of each lug is turned outwardly at right" angles to provide'astop piece 22,'which when the end frame-members are swung upward tonormalvertical? position engages the'105 under'sid'es ofsaidlongitudinalsideportions 2 of said bottom member, thus limiting anyfurther swinging movement of the end-member beyond the normal verticalplane, and since the opposite end member is interconnected therewith bysaid top frame member, it too is stopped in normal vertical position.

In order to lock the rack or carrier in normal operative unfoldedposition, so that the same cannot collapse when in use, I provide alocking means associated with the cornerpieces or risers forming'theopposite end frame-member.' This locking means comprises'an inwardlyextending lug 23, connected with each of the laterally opposite cornerpieces or risers which form said opposite end member, the same extendingfrom 1 the inner marginal edges of said cornerpieces or risers, beneaththe bearing portions thereof inwhich'the bottom, frame is journaled. Ivprovide a laterally disposed slidebar 24 having eye-portions 25 at itsopposite ends embracing said side portions 2 of said bottom framemember, to dispose said slidebar beneath the latter and longitudinallyslidable thereon. When the end frames have been raised to normalvertical position, said slide-bar 24 is pushed over the lock lugs 23, sothat the slide-bar is disposed between the latter and the bottom-member.The slidebar 24 is thus positioned to obstruct any upward swingingmovement of said lock lugs consequent upon the downward swinging of saidend member to which the latter are connected below the point of pivotalconnection with said bottom-member, therefore locking the end members,as interconnected by the top-member in upwardly extending normalposition.

The collapsible rack thus constructed provides a very useful utensil forthe housewife, as well as for many other uses. When opened to normalposition it serves as a rack or carrier for preserving jars, etc., thesame being inserted through the openings of the top-member and supportedby the bottom member, so that a number of jars may be let down with therack into the boiling water contained in the preserving kettle or orremoved therefrom, without danger of scalding or otherwise injuring thehands. Other uses to which the rack may be put will readily recommendthemselves without necessity of specifically mentioning the same.

The rack is clean and sanitary, may be easily washed, and when not inuse may be collapsed to occupy but little storage space.

I am aware that some clnnges may be made in the arrangements andcombinations of the several devices and parts without departing from thescope of my present invention as above described, and as defined in thefollowing claims. Hence, I do not limit my invention to the eXaCtarrangements and combinations of the .various devices and parts ashereinabove set forth, nor do I confine myself to the exact details ofthe construction of said parts as illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings.

I claim 1. A folding carrier comprising corner pieces, meansinterconnecting laterally opposite corner pieces, upwardly extendinghandl loops secured to and between laterally opposite corner pieces, ajar supporting bottom frame member pivotally connected to said cornerpieces, a jar embracing top frame member pivotally connected to saidcorner pieces in vertically spaced relation to said bottom member, onepair of laterally opposite corner the like,

pieces having inwardly extending stop members adapted to engage theunder side of said bottom member to limit the unfolding movement of saidcarrier, the opposite pair of laterally opposite corner pieces havinginwardly extending tongues, and a slide bar associated with said bottommember and said tongues to prevent folding movement of said carrier.

2. In a folding carrier normally vertical corner pieces of flat stock, ajar supporting bottom member, a jar embracing top member spaced abovesaid bottom member, the ends of said members having portions serving asjournals, the inwardly presented marginal edges of said corner piecesbeing cut away to provide semi-circular bearing seats, and free tonguesformed in the marginal edges of said corner pieces having reversesemi-circular seat portions above said bearing seats, said tongues beingadapted to be bent out of the respective planes of said corner pieces toprovide gaps admitting said journal portions of said bottom and topmembers into said bearing seats and then bent back into alinement withthe latter to cause their reverse seat portions to straddle said journalportions to prevent displacement of said journal portions from saidseats.

3. A folding carrier comprising corner pieces, means interconnectinglaterally opposite corner pieces, upwardly extending handle loopsconnected with the upper ends of laterally opposite corner pieces, theinner marginal edges of said corner pieces being cut away to provideupper and lower semi-circular bearing seats, vertical tongues formed inthe marginal edges of said corner piece above said bearing seats, saidtongues having reverse semi-circular bearing seats adapted to be alinedrespectively over said first mentioned bearing seats, a jar supportingbottom member pivoted by its ends in said lower bearing seats of saidcorner pieces, a jar embracing top member pivotally associated in likemanner with said upper bearing seats of said corner pieces, said tonguesbeing adapted to be bent out of the respective planes of said cornerpieces to provide gaps admitting-said bottom and top members to saidbearing seats and then bent back into alinement with the latter toprevent displacement of said bottom and top members from the pivotalconnections thus provided, stop means for determining the limit of theunfolding movement of said carrier thus formed, and lock means formaintaining said carrier against collapsing when unfolded.

4. A folding carrier comprising corner pieces, means interconnectinglaterally opposite corner pieces, upwardly extending handle loopsconnected with the upper ends of laterally opposite corner pieces, theinner marginal edges of said corner pieces being cut away to provideupper and lower semi-circular bearing seats, vertical tongues formed inthe marginal edges of said cornerpieces above said bearing seats, saidtongues having reverse semi-circular bearing seats adapted to be alinedrespectively above said first mentioned bearing seats, a ar supportingbottom member pivoted by its ends in said lower bearing seats of saidcorner pieces, a jar embracing top member pivotally associated in likemanner with said upper bearing seats of said corner pieces, said tonguesbeing adapted to be bent out of the respective planes of said cornerpieces to provide gaps admitting said bottom and top members to saidbearing seats and-thenbent back into alinement with the latter toprevent displacement of said bottom and top members from the pivotalconnections thus provided, one pair'of laterally opposite corner pieceshaving inwardly extending stopmembers beneath the pivotal connection ofsaid bottom-member therewith, said stop members being adapted'toengage'the under side of said bottom member to limit the unfoldingmovement of saidcarrier, the opposite pair of laterally opposite cornerpieces membertherewith, and a slide bar associated with said bottommember adapted-to be moved between said lock lugs and said bot preventcollapse of said cartom member to men 5. In a folding carrier normallyvertical Copies of this patent maybe obtained'for five cents achfbyaddressing the Washington, D. 0.

aving inwardly extending lock lugs beneath the pivotal connection ofsaid bottom frame consisting of side portionsfend por tions,*-andintermediate laterally extending longitudinally spaced members; "means-1 pivotally connecting'the' end portionsof said bottommember and saidtop member to said corner piecesin vertically spaced relation,"'

one pair of laterally opposite corner pieces having inwardly extendingstop melribers'i provided with-outwardly turned stop "lugs at theirextremities,"said stop-members'being located beneaththe'pivotal"connection' of said bottom member'with said" corner piecesso as to becarried into stopping relation with the side portions of'saidbotto'm member to limit the unfolding movementof said carrier,theopposite pair of laterally opposite corner pl'eces having "'inwa rdlyfensame may be insertedf betweensaid bottom" membei-"and said' lock lugs toprevent the folding of'said carrier, and vertical handle loops connectedto and between the upperends of laterally opposite corner pieces;

In-test'imon'y' that I claim the'inventio'n' set forth above I havehereunto set my hand this 2nd day of-March, '1918.

LEVI l. DARBY 1 Witnesses: V FREDK. C. FRAENTZEL,

FREDK' H. W. FRA'ENTZEL.

Commissioner'of Patentsi

